Senior Director, People & Culture

We believe everyone deserves the right to Live Más - and we're constantly inspired by the creativity it takes to get there.

Hybrid

Who We Are

Born in California and serving more than 42 million fans each week, Taco Bell is the world’s largest Mexican-inspired quick-service restaurant brand and part of Yum! Brands. Across 8,200+ restaurants and 350 franchise organizations worldwide, we challenge convention, celebrate bold self-expression, and create experiences that help people Live Más. We are Cultural Rebels with a cause: building a more inclusive future, strengthening our communities, and pushing the restaurant industry forward.

If you are energized by big ideas, meaningful scale, and people-centered transformation, we would love to meet you.

The Opportunity

As Sr. Director, People & Culture, you will shape the people strategy for more than 13,000 U.S. Taco Bell Operations team members across 450+ company restaurants. Reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer and serving on the People & Culture Leadership Team, you will lead Field People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection. This is a high-impact opportunity for a modern HR executive who can connect vision to execution, influence across a complex franchise system, and build the talent, capabilities, and culture needed to fuel Taco Bell's next chapter of growth.

What You’ll Lead

• Build a high-performing field culture. Set the people strategy for company restaurants, spanning talent planning, organizational and employee development, change management, leader onboarding, employee relations, engagement, retention, and labor relations support.
• Strengthen leadership and talent. Build the HR and operational leadership capabilities needed to attract, develop, and retain exceptional restaurant talent and reinforce Taco Bell as an employer of choice.
• Transform learning d the global learning and development strategy, training ecosystem, curricula, brand standards, and HR platforms supporting 8,000+ restaurants.
• Influence across the franchise system. Partner with executive leaders, franchisees, Operations, HR, and international teams to share best practices, anticipate future needs, and drive enterprise change.
• Advance safety, asset protection, and team performance. Guide programs, technology, policies, and vendor partnerships that protect our people, restaurants, and brand while coaching a talented team of People & Culture, Learning & Development, and Asset Protection professionals.

What You Bring

• 15+ years of progressive Human Resources leadership experience, including a multi-state, multi-unit environment.
• Broad HR expertise across talent, leadership development, learning, employee relations, compensation, benefits, and organizational effectiveness; experience in both non-union and union environments is preferred.
• A track record of leading organizational design, change, and growth in a decentralized, evolving business.
• Executive presence and the ability to influence senior leaders, franchise partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated success attracting and developing top talent, challenging the status quo, and delivering measurable business results.

Work-Hard, Play-Hard:

• Hybrid work schedule (onsite expectation Tues, Wed, Thurs) and year-round flex day Friday
• Onsite childcare through Bright Horizons
• Onsite dining center and game room (yes, there is a Taco Bell inside the building)
• Onsite dry cleaning, laundry services, and carwash
• Onsite gym with fitness classes and personal trainer sessions
• Up to 4 weeks of vacation per year plus holidays and time off for volunteering
• Generous parental leave for all new parents and adoption assistance program
• 401(k) with a 6% matching contribution from Yum!…